Zhao Wenchun stopped moving and immediately understood what his daughter meant.
"Teacher Dai has always recommended me, and I think, maybe I can..."
“There are no maybes.” Zhao Wenchun interrupted directly. “If you want to ask for your father’s opinion, all my opinion is that you should be happy. Xiaoxi, your happiness is the true merit of my life.”
——
During the evening rush hour, another rear-end collision occurred on the North Fourth Ring Road elevated highway, causing traffic jams that resembled constipation. Back at the Fanyue, Zhou Qishen had to reverse twice to park. The air conditioning was on, but he was still drenched in sweat.
He felt terrible, and the thought of watching horror movies and going into haunted houses in the afternoon made him feel even more disgusted.
The elevator inside the apartment offers good privacy. Zhou Qishen stood alone inside and grew increasingly disliked the faded, yellowish lighting fixtures. He thought to himself, "Tomorrow, I'll have Xu Jin call the property manager and see if we can replace them."
He rubbed his throbbing temples and entered the door code. The door opened, revealing a brightly lit interior. Gu Heping stood at the door and called out, "You're back? Perfect timing, let's have hot pot together."
As if by reflex, Zhou Qishen took a large step back.
Gu Heping was confused by his reaction. "What's wrong? Do I look ugly today?"
Zhou Qishen's nerves pounded. "Don't come here again."
He turned his face away as if looking at him for even a second would shorten his lifespan. "Look in the mirror, you look like a ghost. I'll change the password tomorrow." He scanned Gu Heping from head to toe. "You're dressed like a ghost too."
As Zhou Qishen walked into the entryway and passed by her, he became irritated again, muttering, "You're a ghost."
Then, taking off his shoes—too lazy to change—Zhou Qishen walked barefoot into the bedroom. He flipped the main control switch, and the lights in the four-bedroom apartment shone as brightly as day.
Gu Heping stood there, bewildered by the humiliation, until he finally came to his senses.
"Damn, are you crazy?"
Chapter 12 Many Graceful Fairies (1)
Graceful Fairy (1)
Gu Heping didn't even eat hotpot that night. He was genuinely angry. Before leaving, he said in a particularly sarcastic tone, "Don't come to your house. What kind of house is this? Other people's homes are filled with wives, children, and warm beds. You're just a man who's been dumped by your wife. At best, it's a run-down little inn."
It took Zhou Qishen a while to process what had happened; his liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys all ached. Gu Heping had long since vanished without a trace.
When I told Lao Cheng about it later, he just treated it as a joke. "He didn't beat you up because you ran fast. Why did you have to rub salt in his wounds? Are you just bored? Besides, you two are over thirty years old. How childish!"
——
The next morning, Zhao Wenchun returned home after grocery shopping and was startled to see Zhao Xiyin standing in the living room, all neatly dressed. "Oh, up so early?"
Zhao Xiyin tied her hair into a ponytail in front of the mirror, biting a comb in her mouth, the hair tie twirling between her fingers. Her light green sportswear made her look fresh and elegant.
Zhao Wenchun put down the groceries. "Going out?"
"Go to Xiao Li's place and hand over some things to me."
Zhao Wenchun glanced at her daughter and asked, "Oh, you really went back to dancing?"
Zhao Xiyin was both amused and exasperated. "Otherwise, did you think I was just joking last night?"
Zhao Wenchun really thought so.
That day, Zhao Xiyin asked, "For so many years, she hasn't had a proper job. She and Li Ran have been messing around and traveling all over China whenever they have enough money. What other family's daughter is so willful?" Zhao Wenchun genuinely didn't mind at all, because he knew how difficult it had been for his daughter after her dancing accident that year.
On the surface, she appears calm and collected, but inside she's suffered countless injuries, her tendons and bones aching. She says she's healed, but in reality, she's endured it all herself. She's been dancing for over twenty years; it's become an integral part of her life. The more painful the fall, the heavier the injustice she suffered, the deeper her heart turned to ashes.
Zhao Wenchun possessed exquisite calligraphy skills, capable of reciting poems through the ages, and could also speak eloquently, each word flowing like a hundred rivers. Yet, he could not utter a single word to comfort his daughter, who had suffered a broken wing.
Zhao Xiyin smiled and told him countless times, "It's all over, Dad, I'm fine."
Who would believe that?
But this time, Zhao Wenchun trusted him completely.
Zhao Xiyin straightened her bangs: "What are you laughing at?"
Zhao Wenchun had several upward-pointing wrinkles around his eyes, giving him an honest and simple appearance.
Zhao Xiyin turned around. "Teacher Zhao, is there anything you want to teach me?"
"If you're unhappy, go home," Teacher Zhao advised.
Zhao Xiyin went to take the subway. Just as she left her residential compound, she heard someone call her name. She looked left and right, unable to pinpoint the caller. Meng Weixi rolled down the window, lowered her head slightly, and looked in her direction, calling out, "Xiyin."
Zhao Xiyin stood frozen in place, as if a rope was pulling at her ankle, forgetting whether she should leave or stay.
The two were only a few meters apart, and with people and cars constantly passing by, it suddenly dawned on them that this moment was real, that they were alive. Meng Weixi got out of the car, not even having time to close the door, and ran towards the rising sun.
Zhao Xiyin quietly took two small steps back and just watched him silently.
Meng Weixi was particularly sensitive to her expression and said with a smile, "What's wrong? Your running form isn't very good. Should I run it again?"
Zhao Xiyin was amused and jokingly said, "Now that you're such a big boss, how could I dare to order you around? You're here on business?"
She was truly relaxed, showing no sign of awkwardness or discomfort, treating him as she would any of Li Ran, Xiao Shun, or any of her friends. Meng Weixi's smile faded slightly, but he remained polite and gentle, saying frankly, "I came to see you."
“I only heard about what happened that noon from Teacher Dai yesterday. I’m sorry that it caused an unpleasant situation for you and your aunt.”
Zhao Xiyin immediately understood. Dai Yunxin's idea of recommending her to try her luck at "Nine Thoughts" was probably related to Meng Weixi. Originally, she only intended to persuade Zhao Xiyin through Ding Yahe. Unexpectedly, Ding Yahe took it very seriously and hurriedly summoned Zhao Xiyin. Dai Yunxin probably regretted it too; her good intentions had backfired, and she had encountered such a brainless person.
Meng Weixi returned to China from a business trip to Japan yesterday and met with Dai Yunxin. Teacher Dai waved to him and sighed.
That means, give up, it's hopeless.